Pet food product

Abstract

This pet food product includes at least ten pet food grains that have the same form and the same composition. When the breaking force is measured when ten of the pet food grains are compressed at a constant compression rate under the following test conditions, 50% or more of the pet food grains has, other than the maximum peak of the breaking strength, a plurality of peaks that are at least 1 / 2 of the maximum peak.

Description

Pet Food Products

[0001] The present invention relates to a pet food product. This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-103976, filed on June 26, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Pet food can be divided into staple foods and snacks depending on the occasion for which it is given. Pet food used as a staple food is called a "complete nutritional food" and is made so that pets can obtain all the nutrients they need by simply giving the food and water. On the other hand, "snacks" are pet foods intended to be given in limited amounts for training, exercise, or as a reward. When classified by purpose, they are divided into "complete nutritional foods," "snacks," "therapeutic foods," and "foods for other purposes" that do not fall into any of the above categories.

[0003] In terms of moisture content, pet food is broadly divided into dry food, which has a moisture content of about 10%, soft food, which has a moisture content of about 15 to 35%, and wet food, which has a moisture content of about 80%. Of these, demand for dry pet food has been increasing in recent years due to its ease of handling and good storage properties.

[0004] In recent years, pet foods with small outer diameters and thicknesses have become mainstream, particularly for dogs and cats, in order to improve palatability. Pet foods with small outer diameters and thicknesses are thought to be highly palatable because they are easy to eat, but pet foods with small outer diameters and thicknesses tend to be swallowed whole without chewing, which can lead to health concerns such as overeating and choking.

[0005] As a method for preventing pets from eating too quickly, Patent Document 1 discloses a pet dish with a lid that is designed to prevent pets from eating too quickly and to prevent obesity.

[0006] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-130158

[0007] Although there are pet food dishes that can prevent pets from eating too quickly, such as the pet food dish disclosed in Patent Document 1, no pet food has been developed that can prevent pets from eating too quickly.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pet food product that can induce pets to chew and eat the pet food and can prevent them from eating too quickly.

[0009] The present inventors have conducted extensive research to solve the above problems. As a result, they have found that controlling the breaking strength of pet food can induce pets to chew and eat the pet food. More specifically, the present invention employs the following.

[0010] The present invention has the following aspects: [1] A pet food product having at least 10 pet food granules that have the same composition and the same shape, wherein, when the 10 pet food granules are compressed at a constant compression speed under the following test conditions and the breaking force is measured, the pet food product has 50% or more of the pet food granules that, in addition to a maximum peak in breaking strength, have multiple peaks that are at least half the size of the maximum peak. <Test conditions> Compression tester (texture analyzer, model number: EZ-SX, manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation) Plunger: canine-shaped plunger with a diameter of 10 mm Platform: flat dish (inner diameter 26.5 mm x depth 4 mm) Compression speed: 60 mm / min Lowest point of plunger: 4.0 mm (compression distance) Measurement temperature: 25°C Breakage detection start point: 0.035% (0.14 N) Test force: full scale 500 N Peak sensitivity: 0.5% (2.5 N) [2] The pet food product according to [1], wherein the pet food granules have a first surface formed by projecting the pet food granules in a first direction with an arithmetic mean surface roughness Sa1 of less than 14 μm, and a surface formed by projecting the pet food granules in a direction other than the first direction with an arithmetic mean surface roughness Sa2 of 14 μm or greater. [3] The pet food product according to [1] or [2], wherein, when the hardness of 10 of the pet food granules is measured, the average hardness is 30 N or less. [4] The pet food product according to [2], wherein, when the surface of the pet food granule projected in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is taken as the bottom surface, the height of the pet food granule is longer than the length of the pet food granule in the first direction. [5] The pet food product according to [4], wherein, when the height of 10 of the pet food granules is measured, the average height is 10 mm or more. [6] A pet food product comprising at least 10 pet food granules of the same configuration and identical shape, wherein, when the 10 pet food granules are compressed at a constant compression speed under the following test conditions and subjected to a breaking force, 70% or more of the pet food granules have a total weight of fragments remaining in a 7 mm x 7 mm mesh pattern that is 90% or more of the weight before measurement.<Test conditions> Compression tester (texture analyzer, model number: EZ-SX, manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation) Plunger: canine-shaped plunger with a diameter of 10 mm Platform: flat dish (inner diameter 26.5 mm x depth 4 mm) Compression speed: 60 mm / min Lowest point of plunger: 4.0 mm (compression distance) Measurement temperature: 25°C Break detection starting point: 0.035% (0.14 N) Test force: full scale 500 N Peak sensitivity: 0.5% (2.5 N).

[0011] According to the present invention, a pet food product can be provided that can induce pets to chew and eat the pet food product, and can prevent pets from eating it too quickly.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a plunger used when measuring breaking strength. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing pet food granules in a pet food product according to a first aspect of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing surfaces projected from various sides of the pet food granules in a pet food product according to a first aspect of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a graph showing measurement results of the breaking strength of pet food granules in a pet food product of an example. Fig. 5 is a graph showing measurement results of the breaking strength of pet food granules in a pet food product of a comparative example.

[0013] In this specification, the term "pet" refers to an animal kept by a human. In a narrower sense, a pet is an animal kept as a pet by its owner. Furthermore, the term "pet food" refers to feed for pets. The pet food of the present invention can be sold as "animal feed" or "animal food."

[0014] In this specification, "palatability" is an index of whether a food is enjoyed by pets and is determined by texture, taste, smell, and the like.

[0015] In this specification, the moisture content value is the value obtained by the atmospheric pressure heat drying method. In the atmospheric pressure heat drying method, the test object is crushed in a crusher to pass through a 1 mm sieve, and this is used as the analytical sample. 2 to 5 g of the analytical sample is accurately weighed and placed in an aluminum weighing dish. The analytical sample is dried at 135°C for 2 hours, allowed to cool in a desiccator, and then accurately weighed. The moisture content is determined from the difference in weight between the analytical sample before and after drying. More specifically, the test object is crushed in a crusher to pass through a 1 mm sieve, and this is used as the analytical sample. The mass (W1 gram) of the aluminum weighing can is measured in advance as a constant value. The analytical sample is placed in this aluminum weighing can and weighed (W2 grams). Next, the analytical sample is dried at 135°C for 2 hours using a forced-circulation hot air dryer. After allowing the analytical sample to cool in a dry atmosphere (in a silica gel desiccator), the mass (W3 grams) is weighed. The moisture content of the analytical sample is calculated from the obtained masses using the following formula: Moisture content of analytical sample (unit: mass %) = (W2 - W3) ÷ (W2 - W1) × 100 The moisture content shall be the value measured immediately after opening the final product within 30 days from the date of manufacture, or the value measured under equivalent conditions.

[0016] In this specification, the hardness of a pet food granule is a value obtained by the following method. One pet food granule to be measured is placed on a flat plate (inner diameter 26.5 mm x depth 4 mm), and a plunger is pressed vertically from directly above the center of the pet food granule at a constant speed to measure the stress. The peak value (maximum value) of the stress is read as the value of the breaking stress. The numerical unit of breaking hardness can be converted to Newtons (N) by multiplying the value of the breaking stress (unit: kgw) measured by the compression tester by 9.8. <Test conditions> Compression tester (texture analyzer, model number: EZ-SX, manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation) Plunger: canine-shaped plunger with a diameter of 10 mm Platform: flat dish (inner diameter 26.5 mm x depth 4 mm) Compression speed: 60 mm / min Lowest point of plunger: 4.0 mm (compression distance) Measurement temperature: 25°C Break detection start point: 0.035% (0.14 N) Test force: full scale 500 N Peak sensitivity: 0.5% (2.5 N)

[0017] In this specification, the arithmetic mean surface roughness Sa is measured by observing the surface of pet food granules (magnification: 40 times, observation field area: 19 to 20 mm) using a non-contact three-dimensional shape measuring machine VR-3200 (manufactured by Keyence Corporation, using an L filter with a nesting index of 0.25 mm). ２ ) is carried out, and the arithmetic mean roughness Sa of the surface of the pet food granules is calculated.

[0018] (Pet Food Product of First Embodiment) A pet food product according to this embodiment has the same composition and contains at least 10 or more pet food granules of the same shape.

[0019] The pet food product according to the present embodiment is preferably a complete nutritional food. A "complete nutritional food" is a nutritionally balanced pet food intended to be fed to dogs or cats as their main daily diet, and is designed to maintain health at a specified growth stage using only the pet food and water. Standards for a complete nutritional food include, for example, those established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). In this specification, a "complete nutritional food" refers to a food that satisfies the criteria for any of the following stages, regardless of growth stage: "puppy / kitten / growth or growth," "adult dog / adult cat / maintenance or maintenance," and "gestation / lactation." It may also be a "food for all growth stages" or "for all stages" that satisfies all three of these stages.

[0020] Each parameter of the pet food according to this embodiment (breaking strength, thickness, minor axis, hardness, etc.) does not mean the value of a single pet food granule, but rather the average value of the values ​​of 10 pet food granules of the same composition and form produced under the same conditions. For example, it means the average value of the values ​​of 10 granules arbitrarily selected from the multiple pet food granules contained in a packaged dry pet food product. Therefore, if the average value satisfies each parameter, it is a pet food product according to this embodiment.

[0021] When the breaking force of 10 pet food granules of the pet food product according to this embodiment is measured when they are compressed at a constant compression speed under the following test conditions, 50% or more of the pet food granules have, in addition to a maximum peak in breaking strength, multiple peaks that are at least half of the maximum peak. This parameter can be controlled by appropriately adjusting the expansion time when producing the pet food, the shape of the pet food, etc.

[0022] <Test conditions> Compression tester (texture analyzer, model number: EZ-SX, manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation) Plunger: canine-shaped plunger with a diameter of 10 mm Platform: flat dish (inner diameter 26.5 mm x depth 4 mm) Compression speed: 60 mm / min Lowest point of plunger: 4.0 mm (compression distance) Measurement temperature: 25°C Break detection start point: 0.035% (0.14 N) Test force: full scale 500 N Peak sensitivity: 0.5% (2.5 N)

[0023] More specifically, the canine-tooth plunger having a diameter of 10 mm has a cylindrical connecting portion A having a diameter of 10 mm and a height of 19 mm, and a conical pressing portion B having a height of 7.2 mm, as shown in FIG.

[0024] When the breaking strength of the pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment is measured when 10 of the pet food granules are compressed at a constant compression speed under the above test conditions, 50% or more, preferably 60% or more, more preferably 70% or more, and even more preferably 80% or more of the pet food granules have, in addition to the maximum peak of breaking strength, multiple peaks that are at least half of the maximum peak. By having 50% or more of the pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment have, in addition to the maximum peak of breaking strength, multiple peaks that are at least half of the maximum peak, continuous chewing force is required until the pet food granules are completely crushed, and the pet can be induced to chew the pet food granules multiple times, preventing them from eating too quickly.

[0025] When the breaking force is measured when 10 of the pet food granules are compressed at a constant compression speed under the above test conditions, the pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment preferably contain 70% or more, more preferably 80% or more, and even more preferably 90% or more pet food granules such that the total weight of the fragments remaining in a 7 mm x 7 mm mesh is 90% or more of the weight before measurement. When the pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment contain 70% or more pet food granules such that the total weight of the fragments remaining in a 7 mm x 7 mm mesh is 90% or more of the weight before measurement, large clumps of granules are likely to remain even after the pet has chewed the pet food once, which can encourage repeated chewing and prevent the pet from eating too quickly.

[0026] The pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment preferably have an arithmetic mean surface roughness Sa1 of a first surface obtained by projecting the pet food granules in a first direction that is less than 14 μm, and an arithmetic mean surface roughness Sa2 of a surface obtained by projecting the pet food granules in a direction other than the first direction that is 14 μm or greater. In other words, the pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment preferably have surfaces with different surface roughnesses. By having the pet food granules have surfaces with different surface roughnesses, pets can enjoy a variety of textures, further improving palatability.

[0027] Furthermore, it is preferable that the height of the pet food granule in the pet food product according to this embodiment, when the surface of the pet food granule projected in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is taken as the bottom surface, is longer than the length of the pet food granule in the first direction. In other words, it is preferable that the pet food granule has a thicker side that is not rough. It is preferable that the height of the pet food granule in the pet food product according to this embodiment, when the surface of the pet food granule projected in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction is taken as the bottom surface, is longer than the length of the pet food granule in the first direction, thereby encouraging the pet to start chewing from the side that is not rough, further improving palatability.

[0028] The height (thickness) of the pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment is preferably 1.10 times longer than the length (major axis) of the pet food granules in the first direction, more preferably 1.13 times longer, and even more preferably 1.15 times longer.

[0029] The arithmetic mean surface roughness Sa1 of the first surface of the pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment is preferably less than 14 μm, more preferably 13 μm or less, and even more preferably 12 μm or less. The arithmetic mean surface roughness Sa2 of the surface of the pet food granules projected in a direction other than the first direction of the pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment is preferably 14 μm or more, more preferably 16 μm or more, and even more preferably 18 μm or more.

[0030] When the hardness of the pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment is measured, the average hardness is preferably no more than 30 N, more preferably no more than 29 N, and even more preferably no more than 28 N. If the hardness of the pet food granules is no more than the above-mentioned preferred value, the pet food becomes easier to chew and its palatability is further improved.

[0031] The pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment preferably have a height of 10 mm or more, more preferably 10.5 mm or more, and even more preferably 11 mm or more. By having the pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment have a height of 10 mm or more, pets can be induced to chew and eat the pet food granules, and quick eating can be further prevented.

[0032] The pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment preferably have a height of 10 mm or more at 50%. By having 50% or more of the pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment have a height of 10 mm or more, pets can be encouraged to chew and eat the pet food granules, and quick eating can be further prevented. The pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment preferably have a height of 10 mm or more at 50%, more preferably 60% or more, and even more preferably 70% or more.

[0033] The major axis or diameter of the pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment is preferably 5 mm or more, more preferably 7 mm or more, and even more preferably 9 mm or more. Furthermore, the major axis or diameter of the pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment is preferably 13 mm or less, more preferably 12 mm or less, and even more preferably 11 mm or less. For example, the major axis or diameter of the pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment is preferably 5 mm or more and 13 mm or less, more preferably 7 mm or more and 12 mm or less, and even more preferably 9 mm or more and 11 mm or less.

[0034] The minor axis of the pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment is preferably 4 mm or more, more preferably 6 mm or more, and even more preferably 8 mm or more. Furthermore, the minor axis of the pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment is preferably 11 mm or less, more preferably 10 mm or less, and even more preferably 9 mm or less. For example, the minor axis of the pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment is preferably 4 mm or more and 11 mm or less, more preferably 6 mm or more and 10 mm or less, and even more preferably 8 mm or more and 9 mm or less.

[0035] The shape of the pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment is not particularly limited as long as it is a shape suitable for consumption by pets. For example, any shape can be applied, such as a sphere, an ellipsoid (go stone shape), a pellet, a cylinder, a polygonal prism, a hexahedron (plate shape), a clover shape, a heart shape, a star shape, a cross shape, etc. Of these, a cylindrical shape is preferred from the viewpoint of more easily achieving the effects of the present invention.

[0036] <Ingredients> As ingredients for the pet food product according to this embodiment, powdered ingredients and liquid ingredients known in the manufacture of pet food can be used. Specific examples of powdered ingredients include grains (corn, wheat, wheat flour, wheat bran, rice, breadcrumbs, barley, oats, rye, etc.), potatoes (sweet potato, potato, etc.), beans (whole soybeans, etc.), starches (wheat starch, corn starch, rice starch, potato starch, tapioca starch, sweet potato starch, sago starch, modified starch, etc.), vegetable proteins (corn gluten meal, wheat protein, bean protein, rice protein, potato protein, etc.), meats (livestock meats such as beef, pork, lamb, deer, rabbit, chicken, turkey, Examples of suitable raw materials include poultry meat such as quail and poultry; meals (chicken meal, pork meal, beef meal, mixed meals of these), seafood (fish such as tuna, bonito, and horse mackerel; crustaceans such as shrimp and crab; mollusks such as octopus and squid; shellfish such as scallops and turban shells; fish extracts; dried bonito flakes, meal (fish meal), etc.), vegetables, nuts and seeds, mushrooms, eggs, sugars, milk products, additives (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, flavoring ingredients, powdered palatability enhancers, fiber, colorants, phosphates, pH adjusters, seasonings, antioxidants, trehalose, etc.), and the like.

[0037] Meal refers to a powder obtained by compressing and finely crushing meat or seafood. More specific examples of powdered palatability enhancers include animal raw material extracts, plant raw material extracts, yeast extracts, and dried yeast. Specific examples of liquid ingredients (including semi-solid ingredients) include water, oils and fats (animal oils and fats such as chicken oil, lard, beef tallow, dairy fat, and fish oil; vegetable oils and fats such as olive oil, cacao oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, coconut oil, coconut oil, and camellia oil), liquid palatability enhancers, liquid sugar, humectants, preservatives, emulsifiers, flavorings, and colorants.

[0038] An example of the composition of the pet food product (dry type) according to this embodiment is shown below: grains 40-70%, meat 5-30%, seafood 1-15%, beans 1-15%, fiber 1-10%, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids 1-5%, animal fats and oils 1-10% (total of these: 100%).

[0039] (Pet Food Product of Second Embodiment) A pet food product according to this embodiment has the same composition and contains at least 10 or more pet food granules of the same shape.

[0040] The pet food product according to this embodiment has 70% or more pet food granules such that, when 10 of the pet food granules are compressed at a constant compression speed under the following test conditions and subjected to a breaking force, the total weight of the fragments remaining in a 7 mm x 7 mm mesh is 90% or more of the weight before measurement. <Test conditions> Compression tester (texture analyzer, model number: EZ-SX, manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation) Plunger: canine-shaped plunger with a diameter of 10 mm Platform: flat dish (inner diameter 26.5 mm x depth 4 mm) Compression speed: 60 mm / min Plunger lowest point: 4.0 mm (compression distance) Measurement temperature: 25°C Break detection starting point: 0.035% (0.14 N) Test force: full scale 500 N Peak sensitivity: 0.5% (2.5 N)

[0041] When the breaking force is measured when 10 of the pet food granules are compressed at a constant compression speed under the above test conditions, the pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment have 70% or more, preferably 80% or more, and more preferably 90% or more of pet food granules such that the total weight of the fragments remaining in a 7 mm x 7 mm mesh is 90% or more of the weight before measurement. When the pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment have 70% or more pet food granules such that the total weight of the fragments remaining in a 7 mm x 7 mm mesh is 90% or more of the weight before measurement, large clumps of granules are likely to remain even after the pet has chewed the pet food once, which encourages repeated chewing and prevents the pet from eating too quickly.

[0042] When the breaking force of the pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment is measured when 10 of the pet food granules are compressed at a constant compression speed under the above test conditions, it is preferable that 50% or more, more preferably 60% or more, even more preferably 70% or more, and particularly preferably 80% or more of the pet food granules have, in addition to the maximum peak of breaking strength, multiple peaks that are at least half of the maximum peak. By having 50% or more of the pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment have, in addition to the maximum peak of breaking strength, multiple peaks that are at least half of the maximum peak, continuous chewing force is required until the pet food granules are completely crushed, and it is possible to induce the pet to chew the pet food granules multiple times, preventing them from eating too quickly.

[0043] Preferred aspects of the pet food granules in the pet food product according to this embodiment are the same as those in the pet food product according to the first embodiment described above.

[0044] (Pet food granules in the pet food product according to the first aspect) As a specific aspect of the pet food product according to this embodiment, the pet food granules in the pet food product according to the first aspect will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0045] In the following explanation, an X, Y, Z Cartesian coordinate system will be used as necessary. In this case, the Z direction indicates the height direction (direction of gravity). The two directions perpendicular to the Z direction are the X and Y directions. In the drawings, the arrow side is the plus (+) side, and the opposite side to the arrow is the minus (-) side. For example, the +Z side corresponds to the upper side in the height direction, and the -Z side corresponds to the lower side in the height direction.

[0046] In the pet food grain D10 shown in FIG. 2 , the surface where the pet food grain D10 is projected onto the +X side of the first direction is the first surface D1. Furthermore, the surface where the pet food grain D10 is projected onto the -X side of the first direction is the fourth surface D4. In the pet food grain D10, the surface where the pet food grain D10 is projected onto the +Z side of the second direction orthogonal to the first direction is the fifth surface D5. Furthermore, the surface where the pet food grain D10 is projected onto the -Z side of the B side of the second direction orthogonal to the first direction is the sixth surface D6. In the pet food grain D10, the surface where the pet food grain D10 is projected onto the +Y side of the third direction orthogonal to the first direction is the second surface D2. Furthermore, the surface where the pet food grain D10 is projected onto the -Y side of the second direction orthogonal to the first direction is the third surface D3.

[0047] 3 is a diagram showing the surfaces of pet food particle D10 projected in each direction, i.e., the first surface D1 to the sixth surface D6. Pet food particle D10 has first surface D1 to fourth surface D4 with an arithmetic mean surface roughness Sa1 of less than 14 μm, and fifth surface D5 and sixth surface D6 with an arithmetic mean surface roughness Sa2 of 14 μm or more.

[0048] The preferred parameters and ingredients of the pet food granules D10 are as described above.

[0049] The present invention will be explained in more detail below using examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0050] (Production of Complete Nutritional Pet Food) (Example 1) The ingredients of the pet food granules in the pet food product of Example 1 were mixed according to the formulation shown in Table 1. The resulting raw material mixture was fed into an extruder and heat-treated while kneading to gelatinize the starch component, and the mixture was extruded and granulated into granules at the outlet of the extruder. After swelling for 0.04 seconds, the granules were cut to obtain granules (swelling time: 0.04 seconds). The resulting granules were dried using a dryer to produce the pet food product of Example 1, which had at least 10 pet food granules of the same composition and shape. The shape of the pet food granules in the pet food product of Example 1 was the same as pet food granule D10 shown in Figure 3. The major axis, minor axis, and thickness of 10 randomly selected pet food granules in the pet food product of Example 1 were measured with vernier calipers, and the average values ​​were found to be 9.5 mm for the major axis, 8.5 mm for the minor axis, and 11 mm for the thickness. Furthermore, 10 randomly selected pet food granules from the pet food product of Example 1 were allowed to freely fall from a height of 20 cm into a 1 L cup with a diameter of 11 cm, and the average bulk density was determined using the weight that remained in the cup when it was level. As a result, the average bulk density of the pet food granules was found to be 285.5 (g / L). Furthermore, the arithmetic mean surface roughness of 10 randomly selected pet food granules from the pet food product of Example 1 was determined by observing the surfaces of the pet food granules (magnification 40x, observation field area: 19-20 mm) using a non-contact three-dimensional shape measuring instrument VR-3200 (manufactured by Keyence Corporation, using an L filter with a nesting index of 0.25 mm). ２ ) was performed, and the average value of the arithmetic mean roughness Sa was determined for the surfaces of the pet food granules. As a result, the arithmetic mean surface roughness Sa1 of the first surface D1 to the fourth surface D4 of the pet food granules was 13.1 μm. Furthermore, the average of the arithmetic mean surface roughness of the fifth surface D5 and the sixth surface D6 was 19.6 μm.

[0051] Comparative Example 1 The ingredients of the pet food granules in the pet food product of Comparative Example 1 were mixed according to the formulation shown in Table 1 (the same formulation as in Example 1). The resulting raw material mixture was fed into an extruder, and heat-treated while kneading to gelatinize the starch component. The mixture was extruded and granulated into granules at the outlet of the extruder, and simultaneously cut to obtain granules (expansion time: 0 seconds). The resulting granules were dried using a dryer to produce the pet food product of Comparative Example 1, which had at least 10 pet food granules of the same composition and shape. The major axis, minor axis, and thickness of 10 randomly selected pet food granules in the pet food product of Comparative Example 1 were measured with vernier calipers, and the average values ​​were found to be 9.0 mm major axis, 9.0 mm minor axis, and 5 mm thick. Additionally, 10 randomly selected pet food granules from the pet food product of Comparative Example 1 were allowed to freely fall from a height of 20 cm into a 1 L cup with a diameter of 11 cm, and the average bulk density was determined using the weight that filled the cup when it was level. As a result, the average bulk density of the pet food granules was 370.0 (g / L).

[0052]

[0053] [Number of Peaks at or Above Half of the Maximum Peak] For 10 randomly selected pet food granules from the pet food products of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1, the breaking force was measured when the pet food granules were compressed at a constant compression speed under the following test conditions, and the number of peaks at or above half of the maximum peak of breaking strength other than the maximum peak was detected. Specifically, one pet food granule to be measured was placed on a flat plate (inner diameter 26.5 mm x depth 4 mm), and measurements were carried out while pressing a plunger vertically from directly above against the centre of the pet food granule at a constant speed. The results are shown in Tables 2 and 3. A graph of the measurement results for the food granules of Example 1 is shown in Figure 4. A graph of the measurement results for the food granules of Comparative Example 1 is shown in Figure 5. <Test conditions> Compression tester (texture analyzer, model number: EZ-SX, manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation) Plunger: canine-shaped plunger with a diameter of 10 mm Platform: flat dish (inner diameter 26.5 mm x depth 4 mm) Compression speed: 60 mm / min Lowest point of plunger: 4.0 mm (compression distance) Measurement temperature: 25°C Break detection start point: 0.035% (0.14 N) Test force: full scale 500 N Peak sensitivity: 0.5% (2.5 N)

[0054] [Hardness] Using the same method as in [Number of peaks equal to or greater than half the maximum peak] above, the maximum peak breaking strength of 10 randomly selected pet food granules in the pet food products of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 was measured. The maximum peak breaking strength value (unit: kgw) was multiplied by 9.8 to convert the unit to Newtons (N). The results are shown in Tables 2 and 3.

[0055] [Stroke] Using the same method as in the above [Number of peaks equal to or greater than half the maximum peak], the distance required to reach the maximum peak in breaking strength (the distance from when the plunger comes into contact with the pet food granule until the pet food granule breaks) was measured for 10 randomly selected pet food granules in the pet food products of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1. The results are shown in Tables 2 and 3.

[0056] [Friability] Using the same method as in [Number of peaks equal to or greater than half of the maximum peak] above, the difference in breaking strength between the maximum peak and the smallest value between the adjacent peaks (convex point - concave point) was measured for 10 randomly selected pet food granules in the pet food products of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1. The results are shown in Tables 2 and 3.

[0057]

[0058]

[0059] As shown in Tables 3 and 4, in addition to the maximum peak in breaking strength, the pet food granules in the pet food products of the Examples had multiple peaks that were at least half the maximum peak. This shows that continuous chewing force is required until the pet food granules are completely crushed.

[0060] [Total weight of pet food granule fragments remaining in the 7 mm x 7 mm mesh] When the breaking force was measured using the same method as in [Number of peaks equal to or greater than half of the maximum peak] above, the total weight of the fragments remaining in the 7 mm x 7 mm mesh, the weight of the pet food granules before measurement, and the ratio of the total weight of the fragments remaining in the 7 mm x 7 mm mesh to the weight of the pet food granules before measurement (total weight of fragments / weight of pet food granules before measurement) were calculated. The results are shown in Tables 4 and 5.

[0061]

[0062]

[0063] As shown in Tables 4 and 5, after measuring the breaking force, the pet food granules in the pet food products of the Examples had a high proportion of fragments remaining in the 7 mm x 7 mm mesh pattern. This shows that when pets chew the pet food granules, large fragments are likely to remain.

[0064] [Evaluation of the effect of preventing rapid eating] The pet food products of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 were given to dogs, and the time from when they started to eat the food until they finished eating was measured. In addition, the dogs' eating behavior was filmed on video, and the average number of times they chewed each grain was measured. The results are shown in Table 6.

[0065]

[0066] As shown in Table 6, it was confirmed that the pet food products of the Examples allowed for a greater number of chews and a slower eating pace than the pet food products of the Comparative Examples.

[0067] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Addition, omission, substitution, and other modifications of the configuration are possible within the scope of the spirit of the present invention. The present invention is not limited by the above description, but is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

[0068] D10: Pet food granules

Claims

1. A pet food product having at least 10 pet food granules of the same composition and the same shape, wherein when the breaking force is measured when 10 of the pet food granules are compressed at a constant compression speed under the following test conditions, 50% or more of the pet food granules have, in addition to the maximum peak of breaking strength, multiple peaks that are at least half of the maximum peak. <Test conditions> - Compression tester (Texture analyzer, model number: EZ-SX, manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation) - Plunger: canine-tooth-shaped plunger with a diameter of 10 mm - Platform: flat dish (inner diameter 26.5 mm x depth 4 mm) - Compression speed: 60 mm / min - Lowest point of plunger: 4.0 mm (compression distance) - Measurement temperature: 25°C - Break detection starting point: 0.035% (0.14 N) - Test force: full scale 500 N - Peak sensitivity: 0.5% (2.5 N) 2. The pet food product according to claim 1, wherein the pet food granules have a first surface, where the pet food granules are projected in a first direction, that has an arithmetic mean surface roughness Sa1 of less than 14 μm, and a surface, where the pet food granules are projected in a direction other than the first direction, that has an arithmetic mean surface roughness Sa2 of 14 μm or more.

3. The pet food product according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the hardness of ten of the pet food granules is measured, the average hardness is 30 N or less.

4. The pet food product according to claim 2, wherein when a surface of the pet food granule projected in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is taken as a bottom surface, the height of the pet food granule is longer than the length of the pet food granule in the first direction.

5. The pet food product according to claim 4, wherein when the heights of ten of the pet food granules are measured, the average height is 10 mm or greater.

6. A pet food product having at least 10 or more pet food granules of the same configuration and the same shape, wherein when 10 of the pet food granules are compressed at a constant compression speed under the following test conditions and subjected to a breaking force, 70% or more of the pet food granules have a total weight of fragments remaining in a 7 mm x 7 mm mesh that is 90% or more of the weight before measurement. <Test conditions> - Compression tester (Texture analyzer, model number: EZ-SX, manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation) - Plunger: canine-tooth-shaped plunger with a diameter of 10 mm - Platform: flat dish (inner diameter 26.5 mm x depth 4 mm) - Compression speed: 60 mm / min - Lowest point of plunger: 4.0 mm (compression distance) - Measurement temperature: 25°C - Breakage detection starting point: 0.035% (0.14 N) - Test force: full scale 500 N - Peak sensitivity: 0.5% (2.5 N)

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